Into the Night

Tired of the summer music festival frenzy? Even though it goes to the soul of rock and roll (and money), it can be a bit much. A nice change is a down-to-earth homegrown summer music event that has taken hold on a farm in the middle of nowhere. On Saturday local bands Buddha Gonzalez, Bleech, and about twenty others take you back to the spirit of an old-time summer festival with Bud Stock II (17200 SW 208th St., Homestead, 245-9163). The party is named after a plant, not a beer, and is intended to celebrate the local music scene and raise hemp awareness. Representatives from N.O.R.M.L., Arden and Wondering Bill, will briefly discuss the finer aspects of marijuana. Bring a cooler and barbecue -- sometime between Al's Not Well, Curious Hair, Mood Boots, Endo, Birdman, Sugar Daddy Fat Cat, Chalk, and the other eleven bands you will need something to eat and drink. The party starts smokin' at 1:00 p.m. and goes until the last band plays. It seems like almost too much fun for eight dollars. If you prefer sweating late at night in a dark club rather than on a sunny farm, the spot that was king of early morning mayhem has returned. Niva (643 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 532-0230) has been open again for a couple of weeks, but this is the first weekend that the after-hours party will take place on both Friday and Saturday. So if it's 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. and you feel like having another drink, there's no reason the party should stop.

La Covacha, "Executive Thursday." It's the happiest of happy hours when South Florida's Latin professionals converge on the Cuban roadhouse of fun with guitarist Arturo Fuerte. The frolicking begins right after work with an open bar and continues into the wee hours. 10730 NW 25th St., 594-3717.

Friday
KGB, "Amp." There will be plenty of wattage to keep you groovin' with DJs Mark Leventhal, George Acosta, and Danny Alexander pumping the hip-hop and house throughout the Elektra Lounge, the Paramount Room, and the rooftop garden. 637 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 534-5420.

Club Tropigala, "The Magic of Music." Take a journey through time with a musical revue spanning the last seven decades; with or without dinner package tonight and Saturday. 4441 Collins Ave. (Fontainebleau Hilton), Miami Beach, 672-7469.

La Farandula, "Disco Fever." The latest gay club in town is not on South Beach but a bit north. The name means "party people" and they live up to the reputation into the wee hours. DJ Smokey keeps things hot. 1969 71st St., 861-3030.

Saturday
Polly Esther's, "Rent Party." Have a case of the summertime financial blues? A good reason to go out on the town is a rent party. There's free admission plus drink specials and snacks before midnight; one lucky person will win $200 for rent. 841 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 535-5633.

Escuelita, "Azucar." The sweet boys of the beach converge for a drag show and dancing in the gay Latin showplace with hostess Electra. 220 21st St., Miami Beach, 534-5599.

Starfish, "Venus Envy." Women love Saturday night and promoter Mary D. This indoor/outdoor party palace is packed with ladies who prefer to party with ladies. 1427 West Ave., Miami Beach, 673-1717.

Bash. If you yearn for velvet ropes, it will be hard to resist the draw of Freedom Weekend at this five-year-old institution. DJ Marc Sacheli handles the vibrations in the main room, and in the Magic Garden DJ Roberto Costa cranks up the world-beat groove. 655 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 538-8858.

821, "Bingo." There aren't any sleepy old people with big fat markers playing this game. Each week local celebrities call out numbers; tonight it's South Beach door personality Gilbert Stafford, to benefit the community AIDS program at South Shore Hospital, United Foundation for AIDS (UFA). 821 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, 531-1188.